Juggling Work and Play in a Long-Term Position
Being in a long-term position certainly has its perks. You know where you’re going each day, and you can form relationships with your students. But it’s a lot more work than daily supply, and you may find yourself wondering when you’ll ever get some “me” time.
Here are some tips for juggling work and play:
1. Make lists.
As teachers, we’ve always got something that needs to be done. It can be hard to keep track of all the projects, so it is best to make a comprehensive list. Write down everything you need to do, so that you can move through that list one item at a time, and not feel overwhelmed. The satisfaction of crossing a finished item off the list is an added bonus!
2. Make the most of your PPA time.
They give us this time for a reason—there is no way we could do all our planning and assessment over the weekend! It is easy to get distracted when you’ve got the afternoon to yourself for marking or planning. People come in and out of the staff room, you chat a bit, you have a cup of tea, and then all of a sudden it’s time to go home! Don’t let your PPA time get away from you. Bring your list and challenge yourself to cross off as many items as you can in this (paid!) time slot.
3. Find a schedule that works for you.
Will you do your school work on weekday evenings? Saturdays afternoons? Every second weekend? I take my Friday night and Saturday for myself, and I plan all day on Sundays. This works for me, but it may not work for everyone! Decide when you’ll be most productive and set aside that time for work-related projects. You’ll be more inclined to get things done if you know you’ve got other time set aside for yourself.
4. Plan ahead.
Fancy a night out with your friends? Don’t wait until Friday afternoon to plan it. If you make social plans in advance, you’ll know exactly what you need to accomplish before then, and you’ll work hard to complete what needs to be done. Spend Monday evening grading maths tests so that you can see a film on Thursday with your mates!
A teacher’s workload can be overwhelming, but if you stay organized you’ll have plenty of time to unwind over the weekend!
